Fire extinguisher



Nov. 29, 1949 w. A. BEINKE FIRE EXTINGUISHER Filed N09. 22. 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l Vl TJZBez'ne Almrneyx Nov. 29, 1949 w A; BE-INKE 2,489,738

- FIRE EXT INGUISHER Filed Nov. 22, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 lm'eulur 4L Vl TJiBez'nke Patented Nov. 29,1949

OFFICE I .znsa'zas FIRE EXTINGUISHER 'swilliam .A..'Beinke, Webster, Iowa I'Applicat ion"Novemberf 22, 1946,.SerialINoQ-71L559 7 Claims.

This invention'relates to an automatic fire extinguisher adapted to be actuated by an excess of heat in the area in whichthe extinguisher disposed, for causing theautomatic'operation of the extinguisher ata predeterminedtemperature.

More particularly, it is an object of 'the invention to provide a fire extinguisheradaptedtobe released by the breaking -of a fusible retaining member for causing a frangible grenadeor bulb, containing an extinguishing substance, to -'be broken by engagementwith an anvil portion.

Still another object of the invention is toprovide a fire extinguisher capable'of being supported'in any desired locality and in any position and which is provided. withmeansfordistributing the fire extinguishing substance 'to "most effectively accomplish its results.

Various other objects and advantages ofthe'invention will hereinafter become moreful1y apparent, from the following description of 'the drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view-ofa preferred embodiment of the'invention, shown "int-a set position;

Figure 2 is-a -top plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is a vertical, substantiallycentral'sectional view, partly in side elevation ofthe extinguisher;

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the'line l of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 55 of Figure 3, and

Figure 6 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken substantially along a plane as indicated. by

the'line--55 of Figure -1.

"Referring more specifically to thedrawings, the automatic fire extinguisher in its entirety isdesig nated generally 6 and includes a supporting'bracket, desi nated generally "1 which is substantially L-shaned and whichis provided with a leg 8 and a leg 9. The leg'8 "is provided adjacent its free end with an opening Ill. The-bracket l is shown supported by a surface it by means of a driven fastening l2 which extends through the; opening 10 and which is anchoredin the number I I. However, the bracket I could be secured to a ceiling or overhead surface, orcould be supported at the end of a dependinghanger,as will hereina'fter'become apparent.

An elongated strand of relatively resilient wire, designated generally I 3, includes an inverted, substantially U-shaped intermediate portion 14 which 10 clamping plate #5 andthe'leg Bifor "frictionally securing the-strand" f3 to'the bracket l. Thelegs ofthestrand l3 are provided-with integral spring coils l-I disposedbeneathiandadjacent the clampin plate ll. Theromplementary ends I'B project outWardly-from'the remote ends of the coilsjll tofor'm'legs whichcons'titute the terminals o'flthe strand 1-3. The leg's l8-a're connected in spaced apart relationship, adjacent the 'coils I! 'by 'a plate 19 which is disposed transversely of :the "legs l 8 and which isprovided with struck out tongues orothermeans 2Uwhich-engage partially around the "legs +8 for securing corresponding portions thereof in spaced relationship on the'plate L9.

Ahead 21 is-forme'd, preferably of sheetJmetaI, and is provided with an elongated arcuate 'wall12 which is concaveon-its outer sideand which taperedfrom its outer, toward its "inner end. TI-he inner end of the he'ad'dl is open and the ou'ter .-end*'thereo'f is partially-closed by an end wall 23 which is provided with a relatively large, substantially V-shaped notch 24, as best seen in Figure '2. The arcuate wall 2-2, adjacent its longitudinal edges, is provided with-integral outwardly pressed f sleeve portionsifi. The wall 22 is provided witha pair oflong'itudinally aligned sleeve portions {25 adjacent-each of"itslong'itudinal edges and said alignedsleeve portions are provided to receive the terminal portionsp'f the-legs I8 for m'ounting' the' head 2| thereon.

The 'leg 9 is widened, adjacent its free endto adjacent the'bight portion of 'the bracket land the widened porti'on' thereo'f is arcuate in cross section and convex on its upper side. An anvil member or plate 26' -is secured 'by rivets or other suitable fas'tenin'gs 2*! -t'o the upper, convex side of the leg, "adjacent -'-'it's free end. The plate-or anvil surface 26 is --corrugated, as clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and '3. The coils l1 bias .the legs f8 downwardly and outwardly relatively to the leg 8 of the bracket 1 and toward the leg 4! thereof and the {head 2 is supported by the legs P8 in a position to strike the "plate or anvil surface 26 when the legs ['8 are moved toward the leg 9.

A frangible grenade or bulb 28 which is adapted to contain a fire extinguishing substance, not shown, is adapted to be positioned in the concave side of the wall 22 and includes an upper enlarged portion and a restricted lower portion so that the wall of the grenade or bulb is provided with an intermediate annular portion 29 which is tapered downwardly. The bracket leg 8 beneath and adjacent the opening Iii is provided with a struck out upwardly extending tongue or hook at adapted to engage a portion of a band 35 which extends around the head 2| and around the intermediate portion of the bulb or grenade 28 and which has a portion engaging the tapered wall portion 29, so that the band 3| not only retains the legs l8 and the head 2| in a retracted, set position adjacent the bracket leg 8, but also supports the bulb or grenade 28 in the head 21 and in substantially the position as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3. The band 3| is formed from a strip of suitable metal, the ends of which may be interlocked in any suitable manner as seen at 32. It will be seen that when the fire extinguisher 8 is in aset position as illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the fusible band 3| will rupture at a predetermined temperature in response to the pressure exerted thereon through the spring legs [8. When this occurs, the legs l8 will be swung downwardly in a clockwise direction, as seen in Figures 1 and 3, due to the resiliency of the coils Ill and the head 21 will be carried by the legs i8 toward and into engagement with the plate or anvil 26. The bulb or grenade 28 will be carried by the head 2|, due to the fact that said head will move more rapidly than the bulb can fall away from the head by gravity. Consequently, the bulb will strike the anvil surface 26 and will be crushed between said surface and the head 2! and the serrations of the surface tend to deflect the fire extinguishing substance laterally and in cooperation with the arcuate wall 22 of the head 2! which will function to deflect the fire extinguishing substance downwardly and toward an area to be protected from fire and which is located beneath the extinguisher 6.

Various modifications and changes are contemplated and may obviously be resorted to, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an automatic fire extinguisher, a bracket adapted to be detachably connected to a suitable supporting structure and including an impact receiving surface and a retaining element spaced from said impact receiving surface, an impact member, spring actuated means supported by said bracket and urged in a direction toward the impact receiving surface and on which said impact member is mounted for impelling the impact member into engagement with the impact receiving surface upon actuation of said spring means, a fusible metal band engaging said retaining element and impact member for holding the latter and said spring means in a retracted position until the fusible band is ruptured, and a frangible container of a fire extinguishing substance supported against the impact member by the fusible band and carried with the impact member when the fusible band is ruptured into striking contact with the impact receiving surface for crushing the frangible container.

.2. In an automatic fire extinguisher, a bracket adapted to be detachably connected to a suitable supporting structure and including an impact receiving surface and a retaining element spaced from said impact receiving surface, an impact member, spring actuated means supported by said bracket and urged in a direction toward the impact receiving surface and on which said impact member is mounted for impelling the impact member into engagement with the impact receiving surface upon actuation of said spring means, a fusible metal band engaging said retaining element and impact member for holding the latter and said spring means in a retracted position until the fusible band is ruptured, and a frangible container for a fire extinguishing substance carried by said impact member and adapted to be crushed by the engagement of the impact member and impact receiving surface, said container being supported against the impact member by engagement with the fusible band.

3. A fire extinguisher as in claim 2, said fusible band being disposed around said frangible container for retaining it in engagement with the impact member.

4. A fire extinguisher as in claim 1, said impact receiving surface being disposed in substantially a horizontal plane and comprising a corrugated plate adapted to laterally distribute the fire extinguishing substance, when the container thereof is crushed.

5. A fire extinguisher as in claim 2, said impact member being constructed to form a hood over the impact receiving surface, when disposed adjacent thereto, for deflecting the fire extinguishing substance from the crushed container downwardly therefrom.

6. A fire extinguisher as in claim 2, said spring I means comprising a strand of resilient wire having an intermediate portion detachably and fixedly secured to the bracket and leg portions having free ends between which free ends of the leg portions said impact member is mounted,

v said leg portions each being provided with a plurality of resilient convolutions located adjacent said intermediate portion of the wire strand for urging the free ends of said legs toward said impact receiving surface.

7. A fire extinguisher as in claim 2, said impact member being constructed to form a hood over the impact receiving surface when disposed adjacent thereto for deflecting the fire extinguishing substance from the crushed container in a downward direction, and said impact receiving surface bein disposed in substantially a horizontal plane and conforming substantially to the curvature of the impact member for cooperation therewith in deflecting the fire extinguishing substance generally in an outward direction around said impact receiving surface.

WILLIAM A. BEINKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,769,619 Bronander July 1, 1930 1,923,326 Pairish Aug. 22, 1933 

